Streaming game service OnLive has begun taking orders for its home console, with shipments beginning on December 2.

The hardware package will retail for $99 in the US and consists of the Micro Console TV adaptor, one free game, the OnLive Wireless Controller and related cables.

OnLive claims that initial set up takes around three minutes, with games up and running on HDTV's within seconds.

The Micro Console is 1080p and 3D TV compatible, and supports up to four controllers and Bluetooth or USB headsets for in-game voice chat. The controller itself has variable rumble settings and a Brag Clip button to capture game footage.

If users already have access to OnLive on their PC or Mac, games can also be played via the Micro Console.

The company has also said it will offer a flat-rate fee for unlimited access to its library of games, as well as 3-day and 5-day rentals, with actual price details to come.

"This is a big day for OnLive. It's the culmination of more than eight years of hard work by many people, both at OnLive and at our partners, to realise a dream that so many people said was impossible," commented Steve Perlman, CEO of OnLive.

"My hat's off to the team for their dedication and sacrifice to reach this incredible achievement. It has been an honour to work with everyone who made this dream a reality.

Major publishers including Take-Two, Square Enix, Codemasters and Ubisoft already offer their games via the service.

OnLive reviewDigital service does not deliver true HD and its games catalogue is too small

It works. That’s the most impressive part about OnLive’s cloud-based games service. You can sample, rent, and purchase games on-demand. The best part: you won’t need an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or an expensive gaming PC. You won’t even need a disc or time to download and install titles. All the work is done by OnLive’s data centers, which stream the game you’re playing directly to your TV or monitor via your broadband internet connection.

The service has been available via www.OnLive.com since June, 2010. But OnLive game system kits are now available to pre-order and are scheduled to ship on December 2. So, we decided to look at what’s in the box, and find out if the new tech is worth your while.